Q: My husband was diagnosed as having fluid retention on account of the fact that he had swollen and sore hands. I never would have believed that hands could swell that badly. He had two diuretics, which did not help him. He became exhausted and mixed up and ended up in hospital. I asked for physiotherapy for him and was told it wouldn’t help, so I phoned a chiropractor who sent him to
a city specialist who said that it was rheumatoid arthritis and to get him off
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all the pills.
After a week, he started to feel better and his memory came back. He is on six milligrams of Warfarin. Can he eat fresh garlic with meals and what about ginseng?
A: I would say that in this instance the chiropractor did better than the hospital doctors. It sometimes pays to shop around and not take everything the doctors say as gospel.
I know you won’t be popular, but your husband’s life was at stake. He became weak and confused as a result of taking
the diuretics without potassium supplements. He may also have become badly dehydrated.
Lack of potassium weakens the muscles, including the heart. Some people do not need to take extra potassium if they drink enough orange juice or eat bananas, which contain potassium, but the blood levels should be checked at regular intervals.
Swollen, red and painful joints in the hands are a classic sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Hands can be affected without any other joints causing problems.
As you mentioned, the swelling can be quite pronounced. Anti-inflammatory drugs are required, but he should be careful if he is also taking blood thinners.
This could result in gastrointestinal bleeding.
I fail to see why swollen hands were treated as a symptom of heart failure unless there were some other signs that you did not mention. Swollen ankles are more likely.
Why is your husband taking Warfarin? Did he have a heart attack or blood clots somewhere in the body?
I think you had better ask your doctor more questions. Warfarin is a blood thinner and so is garlic, so he needs more blood tests to check his blood clotting time.
If these are fine, then you can continue with the garlic and ginseng. In any case I do not think that taking ginseng once a week will be harmful.
Head connected to stomach
Q: I heard that taking Tums can help migraine headaches. Is this true?
A: It does sound rather odd to take an antacid for a headache, but there is some logic to it. Tums contain calcium that can help stabilize calcium-sensitive hormones during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Problems associated with slight calcium deficiency have been shown to lead to PMS in some people.
Because some women suffer from migraines due to hormonal imbalances in the premenstrual period, I can see how Tums might help. However, this has not yet been tested or scientifically proven. It would not hurt to try if you are a younger female. Tums are also useful as a calcium supplement to help prevent osteoporosis and are easier to take than large calcium carbonate pills, because they are chewable.
To check how much calcium you are getting in your daily diet, there is a website calculator at http://www.tumscalciumforlife.com. Most people should get between 1,200 and 1,500 mg a day. If it isn’t in the diet, then calcium supplements may be necessary.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
